Portable cot for use with automobiles



C. F. BALL.

PORTABLE COT FOR USE WITHAUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1921.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

, 2 SHEETS-I-SHEET llllllll l ullll c. F. BALL. v PORTABLE COT FOR USE WITH AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 192].

Patentd Dec. 27

1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- \llllll. 11

II||||||ll| nzsirasraras rtar CLARENCE r. BALL, on nurnaivn, vnaivrour;

TOETABLE COT FOR USE WITH AUTOMQBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application" filed May a, 1921. Serial No. 466,804.

T 0 all whom 2'25 may concern Be it known that I CLARENCE F; BALL The present invention relates to improvements in portable cots for use with automobiles and the like vehicles, and has for" an object to provide a cot for the use of tourists and campers, which is carried out board of the vehicle and does not encroach on the space bet-ween the sides of the vehicle, but which is designed and intended to project beyond the sides of such vehicle and to be used in connection with extension top flaps of the vehi le, or tenting over all, so that the. occupant of the cot may be pro tected from rain, and also fog andmist which are apt to be encountered by tourists and campers,

Another object of the invention resides in providing an adjustable construction of cot capable of being applied to vehicles of different styles and sizes, and which may form a compact article when disassembled,

for the purpose of carrying it beneath the rear seat or innrunning board box provided therefor.

Vfith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughv stretched between the posts, constitute an out the several views;

Figure 1 shows in dotted lines, a side elevation of an automobile with the improved cot shown in full lines applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a similar view from the front of the vehicle showin two such cots in full lines;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cot with a portion of the fabric removed; and

Fig. e is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l4 in Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the improved cot comprises a fabric 1 stretched over a rectangular frame by the use of lacings 2, or other means of attachment. This rectangular frame is constructed of tubular metal or metal piping, and consists of inner rails 3 and 3 which are telescoped together and connected toT-coupling pieces 4 and 5, to which are secured theend bars 6 and 7 The larger section 3 of piping is preferably a half inch m diameter and approXi-,

matelyfour feet in length, while the smaller piece of piping 3 is preferably of substantially three feet in length and is of a size to slidingly fit within the piping 3.

The opposite or outer edge of the cot is comprised of a tubular section 8 of large diameter and a second tubular piece of piping 8 telescoped within the section 8. These may be of similar lengths compared to the telescoped sections 3 and 3 or may be varied in any desired manner. This telescoping arrangement allows of the cot frame being drawn out or collapsed into smaller size as may be desired in connection with the particular type of vehicle on whichit is to be used.

On the telescoped pieces of piping 8 and 8' are mounted four-way coupling pieces 9 and end coupling pieces 10 and 11, which latter are employed to join the end bars 6 and 7 to the outer side of the rectangular frame. The lower branches of the coupling pieces 9 are secured to tubular legs 12, which, at

their bottom parts, are secured to a tubular rail 13 extending parallel with the running board 25. il-shaped clamps 14 are carried by the rail 13 and have clamping screws 15 adapted to engage the running board.-

The upper branches of the coupling pieces 9 removably accommodate posts 18 which extend above the plane of the cot fabric 1, and together with the fabric pieces 19 outer side for the cot. The upper ends of the posts 18 are adapted to receive either the outer portions of side flaps 20 and 21, forming extensions of the top 22 of the vehicle, or outer portions of covering extending from one side to the other over the top of the automobile.

The cot frame is also provided with exten ion pieces 23, preferably two innumber, and extending downwardly and inwardly of the inner rail so as to engage on the inside of the vehicle in sockets, attached to or made in the bottom of the frame for Patented n 2?, ram.

preferably 121. a a a frontandrearseats. These extension pieces 23imay be connected with the rail in any suitable mannerfbut thereare preferably a number of lockgwashers 24 interposed between the frame and the extension pie es in order. to? compensate for different thick, ne'sses ofupholstery.

In use, the cot is adapted to be supported substantially in the manner indicated 1n Figs; 1 and 2, with the fabric 1 lying sub stantiallyfiush with; the upper edge of the side of the vehicle and outwardly thereof,

the" legs "12 extend 'jdow'n diagonally with theteofver, formaside to: prevent rolling of the clamps 1 4. engaging thejrunning board,

which i indicated at The legsare ind-f justable'ifdesired. V

The posts118 andthe fabriol?) stretched the occupant from; the cot which is sup:

ported at a relatively:high elevation,-and V this side also ay'oidsjthe penetration of rain or snow to the "cot; The flaps 20o a'nd2l of "the top edges ofa on'fepiece coyeringmay be provided with, suitable turnbuttons, glove fasteners, or thelike, to secure them to the upper portions of the posts 18 in order that the windimay not blow thepflaps or tenting outof position. i p v p ,Asfshowninore particnlarly in Fig-r1, a diagonal leg 26 is provided in connection with the reai'rnost four-way? coupling piece,

such legbeing furnished: with a sleeve 27 loosely engaging over the next rearinost leg 12. The legs 12 and 26 slide up and down together, so that the same adjustment is'perinitted. This construction is made necessary 1 by reasons of the presence of the rear fender.

When not in use, the legs 12 and the posts 18 may be removed from thecoupling pieces 9 and the cot, and its pertinent parts may be folded into a'fiatcondition, and if, de-

, sired, the rectangularframe may be disas seinbled to enable the whole to be packed within relatively small compass,

I do not wishcto be restrictedto the size,

. What is claimed is oises form, and proportions of the various parts,

and obviously changes could be made in :the construction herein described without departing ctromethe'spirit of the invention,

-itbeing only necessary'thatjsuch changes fall within'the scope; of the @ppended claims.

g1. A cotfor use 111 connection with vehicles comprising pairs of telescoping, side rails adjustably fitted together, end bars connecting the same, a fabric stretched across said; telescoping rails and end bars,

four-wayfcoupling pieces incorporated in the outer telescoping rails, legs extending downwardly from thelowerbranches of the four-way coupling pieces, means uniting said legs at their lower portions, a clamp as'-' soci'ated with said means and adapted 5 to standards rising froni the upper branches of the four-way coupling "1316 6853, a fabrlc seside for, the cot, and angled pieces attached to the innertelescopingrails and adapted to fit down within thesides of the yehicle, substantially as described.

'2.) A cot for use 1n connection with veengage the running board or the vehicle, 7

cured to said standardstofltorm a parallel hic les comprising extensible side rails, cou- V pling pieces incorporated with the outer side rail and forming partsthereoflclegs extend ing' downwardlyfroin thelower branches or a the coupling pieces, a rod secured to the lower ends of'saidlegs, a clamp on the rod adapted to removably engage with a portion of the vehicle, posts extending upwardly from; the upper branches of the coupling pieces, fabrlc pieces stretched between the rails and, between the posts,jc0nnecting I foLAn'nncE 1?. BALL. 

